THIRDS Beyond the Books Volume 1 Read online

  Looked like he wasn’t going to get to finish his drawing. “Yeah.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Calvin Summers.”

  “I’m Ruben, and that’s Jerry. You already know Kenny.”

  “Hi.” Calvin returned his stuff to his book bag, zipped it up, and jumped off the wall. He listened to Ruben talk trash about other kids, how cool or uncool they were. Calvin didn’t really care what Ruben had to say. He just wanted to get back to his drawing, at least until he saw a huge kid wearing a gray and black baseball tee, jeans, and high tops walk into the courtyard. He was at least a foot taller than Calvin, with pitch black hair, big feet, and big hands. Man, he was huge! The kid stopped a few feet away and leaned against the same wall Calvin had been sitting on. His shoulders slumped a bit, as if he was trying to make himself invisible or something.

  “Who’s that?” Calvin asked. “Is he an eighth grader?”

  Ruben let out a snort. “That’s Ethan. He’s a freak. He looks fourteen, but he’s eleven.”

  Wait, the kid was younger than him? “Why’s he a freak, because he’s so big?”

  Jerry tapped the side of his neck and sneered. “He’s a Therian.”

  “And he doesn’t talk,” Kenny added.

  How had Calvin missed the tattoo? When Ethan turned his head, Calvin saw it. Wow, a tiger Therian. No wonder he was so big. Calvin couldn’t help but feel kind of bad for the kid. He looked so… worried.

  “What do you mean he doesn’t talk? He’s quiet?”

  “No, he doesn’t talk. Watch this.” Ruben turned toward Ethan and called out, “Hey, Tony the Tiger. Where’s your cereal?”

  Calvin frowned. He was about to say something when Ruben and the others crowded Ethan. Ruben shoved Ethan’s shoulder, but the kid barely budged. To Calvin’s surprise, Ethan just shrank back against the wall. Why didn’t he push back? He was way bigger than the other guys. Heck, if Ethan pushed Ruben, the guy would go flying across the courtyard. Calvin couldn’t understand it. The others teased and taunted Ethan, unzipping his book bag and smacking the bottom until everything fell out.

  “Stop it.” Calvin shoved Ruben away from Ethan, knocking him onto his butt. “Leave him alone.”

  Ruben pushed himself to his feet, his teeth gritted. “So now you’re friends with the freak?”

  “He’s not a freak,” Calvin spat. “You’re just an asshole.”

  “Freak lover!”

  Ruben took a step toward him when the bell rang, and Jerry started pulling on Ruben’s arm, leading him away, but not before Ruben thrust a finger in Calvin’s face.

  “You’re so going to get it after school, Summers!”

  Everyone scrambled to get in when the doors opened. Calvin turned to find Ethan crouched down, picking up his school supplies, so he joined in to help him.

  “Don’t listen to those jerks. They’re a bunch of dumbasses.”

  Ethan paused, glanced briefly in his direction before quickly going back to putting his stuff away. Calvin tried again.

  “I’m Calvin. You’re Ethan, right?”

  No reply.

  “It’s okay. I’m not gonna mess with you.”

  Ethan frowned. He pointed to where Ruben and the others had disappeared.

  “I’m not friends with them, if that’s what you think. Today’s my first day. I was drawing and they came over. I didn’t know they were such jerkoffs.”

  Ethan seemed to think about it before nodding. He had really bright green eyes. Calvin had never seen eyes that green. Ethan held his palm out and made a scribbling motion before pointing to Calvin.

  “Yeah, I like drawing. I can show you at lunch or something. If you want.” He waited as Ethan thought about it. The second bell rang, and Ethan gave him a quick nod, pointed down to where they were standing.

  Calvin smiled. “Okay. I’ll meet you here.”

  The rest of the morning, Calvin kept thinking about Ethan. He didn’t know why, but he really liked him. Not in a like-like kind of way, but in a friends kind of way, though he supposed Ethan was kind of cute. Calvin didn’t like the way some of the Human kids knocked Ethan into lockers or bumped into him on purpose when they were walking down the hall. So what if Ethan was a Therian? His mom had always taught him that Therians were no different from Humans. Except for the shifting part. The other Therian kids didn’t seem to want to give Ethan a chance either, just because he didn’t talk. Calvin had heard some of them whispering, saying he wasn’t even a normal tiger Therian because he didn’t have black stripes like the others. Instead he was tabby. They called him names behind his back, like Garfield and Heathcliff. Bunch of jerks.

  By the time lunch came around, Calvin was excited at the thought of hanging out with Ethan. He waited in the courtyard. And waited. Maybe Ethan hadn’t wanted to spend lunch with him at all. After what seemed like forever, Calvin headed for the end of the courtyard, kicking at stones along the way. He was so stupid. He really thought Ethan had wanted to be his friend. Maybe Ethan was just shy. Calvin kicked a rock extra hard into the bushes when he heard something. It was soft and coming from the hedge. Pushing through, he found a small clearing surrounded by more bushes and trees. Ethan sat with his back to a tree, his arms wrapped around his drawn-up legs, his jeans torn over one bruised knee.

  “Ethan?”

  Ethan gave a start and tried to push himself farther back. He was covered in dirt from head to toe.

  “It’s okay. It’s just me. Calvin.”

  Ethan wiped at his eyes, causing smudges across his cheeks. Biting his bottom lip, Calvin slowly got closer. He dropped onto his knees next to Ethan and dug into his book bag to find his thermos. He poured some water on his sleeve and held it up to Ethan.

  “I’m just gonna help you clean up, okay?” When Ethan nodded, Calvin leaned in and carefully wiped his face like his mom would do for him when he got home from playing in the park on a rainy day. Ethan sat very still, his eyes all red and his bottom lip split. That made Calvin angry. “Did Ruben do this?” Ethan lowered his eyes, like he felt bad or something. “Hey, it’s not your fault. Ruben’s an asshole. He’s just jealous. Probably has a really small willy.”

  Ethan laughed, and it made Calvin smile. He liked hearing Ethan laugh. They both laughed about Ruben’s tiny willy, and afterward Ethan pointed to Calvin’s book bag and put his hands together like a book. Calvin showed him his drawings, and they talked for ages. Well, Calvin talked, but it was pretty cool how easy it was for Calvin to understand Ethan even without Ethan using any words. They were missing class, but Calvin thought it would be okay for one day. Ethan wrote down his last name for Calvin. It was Hobbs. He had two big brothers who were also tiger Therians on account of their dad being one. Calvin talked about everything. About all the times they’d had to move. The new schools. His dad.

  “When I grow up, I’m gonna have an awesome job and buy my mom everything she wants. She won’t ever have to worry about bills. And I’m gonna go after bad guys who beat people up, like Ruben and my dad, and put them in jail.” Calvin’s stomach grumbled, and he let out a sigh. He wished he hadn’t eaten his lunch this morning, but he’d been real hungry.

  Ethan unwrapped a huge hoagie from its aluminum foil and broke the sandwich in half, then gave half to Calvin.

  “But that’s your lunch.”

  Ethan shrugged and smiled. He motioned between them, and Calvin’s smile couldn’t get any wider.

  “Yeah, we are friends, aren’t we?” He felt his cheeks go hot, but he said it anyway. “Do you want to be best friends?”

  Ethan stared at him before nodding, a big smile coming onto his face. Calvin scooted closer to Ethan and smiled up at him. He’d never had a best friend before. Something told him neither had Ethan. They ate lunch together, with Calvin talking in between bites about all the stuff he liked, getting excited when Ethan liked some of the same things. When they were all full and sitting quietly together, Calvin thought about Ruben and those other jerks.

&nb
sp; He patted Ethan’s arm, his expression determined. “Don’t worry, big guy. No one’s ever gonna push you around again. Not while I’m here. We’re gonna be best friends forever.”

  Ethan smiled warmly and lay back against the tree before letting out a yawn, which made Calvin yawn. He scooted even closer, hoping Ethan wouldn’t mind, and let his head rest against Ethan’s arm, smiling when his new best friend wrapped his arm around him. No matter what happened, they were going to be best friends forever. They’d show all those bullies. They were gonna be an awesome team and save the world, just like the superheroes in his comic books. They’d have cool uniforms and kick butt. Man, he couldn’t wait. One day.

  Prompt #10: A dangerous situation from Calvin and Hobbs’s pre-THIRDS years when Hobbs shifts before Calvin the first time…?

  CALVIN COULDN’T wait to get home. Last night his mom had surprised him with a new sketchbook and a pencil set. He’d been so excited he’d stayed up late sketching his comic book characters. He was going to show Ethan as soon as they got in.

  “Dude, wait until you see it! I got the cape just right. It curves around him on the side here, and it’s billowing in the wind. So freakin’ cool.”

  He beamed up at Ethan, who smiled brightly at him. Ethan scratched his fingers against his palm, and Calvin nodded.

  “Hell yeah. Of course you can color it. You’re way better at it than I am. Besides, you know line art is more my thing.”

  Calvin had always been good at drawing, but shading had never been his strong suit. Ethan on the other hand was great at it. He always knew which colors to choose, which ones complemented each other. He had a great eye for detail, and his shading was amazing.

  Damn, he hadn’t realized how late it was. They really should have left the park sooner. He didn’t like walking home after dark through this end of their neighborhood, but it was the only way to get to their apartment complex. One of these days, they were going to earn enough to get their families out of this shit hole. Usually Seb picked them up, but this week he was stuck at the library studying for finals. Which reminded him.

  With a smile, Calvin playfully bumped into Ethan. “Dude, Seb’s gonna be a THIRDS agent! He hasn’t even graduated and they already accepted his application. How cool is that?”

  Ethan beamed proudly. He held up his index finger.

  “I know. Just one more year and we graduate. College is gonna be awesome.” Calvin excitedly rattled on about how much fun they were going to have when they went off to college. How they’d share a dorm room. They were going to follow in Seb’s footsteps. They’d already decided to pursue a career at the THIRDS. There was so much to prepare for, to think about. As much as Calvin loved drawing, he’d always wanted to do something to help people. Protect them. He also had to think about his mom. He wanted to get her out of here. Buy her a nice house in a neighborhood that didn’t reek of piss.

  “Well, what do we have here?”

  Calvin stopped. Their path was blocked by four big guys in matching jerseys.

  “Just keep walking,” Calvin told Ethan, taking the lead and walking around one of the guys sporting a white baseball cap with the tag still hanging. That had to be the most ridiculous trend he’d ever seen. Again their path was blocked. Shit.

  “Look at this kid, Mo.” One of the others, wearing sneakers two sizes too big, got up in Ethan’s face. “He’s fucking huge. How old are you?”

  Ethan glowered at the guy but remained silent.

  “Hey, he asked you a question,” Mo—the third guy—growled at Ethan. He shoved Ethan against the chain-link fence to their right.

  “He can’t, all right?” Calvin pushed Mo away from Ethan. “Just leave him alone.”

  The fourth guy, sporting a fake diamond earring, gave Calvin’s shoulder a push. “What do you mean he can’t?”

  Two-sizes looked thoughtful. “I think he means he’s one of them, what do they call ’em? Mimes.”

  Mo sucked on his teeth. “Mute, you moron. He’s a mute.”

  “What, you got no voice?” Two-sizes asked with a frown, poking Ethan’s cheek.

  “Leave him alone, asshole!” Calvin pulled back a fist, only to have his arms seized by Earring guy and Baseball-cap guy. “Let go!”

  Two-sizes noticed the classification tattoo on Ethan’s neck, and he quickly backed up, muttering to his friend Mo. “Kid’s a fucking tiger Therian.”

  “Yeah, but look at him. He’s about to cry.”

  Mo crowded Ethan, who flinched and pulled away, backing himself up against the fence.

  “You gonna go crying home to Mommy?”

  “Look, we don’t want any trouble. Just let us by.”

  Calvin tried to get himself free when Two-sizes grabbed his backpack and jerked it off him. He opened it up, spilling all the contents onto the sidewalk. Calvin ignored him and turned his attention back to Mo, who was harassing Ethan, poking him and tapping his cheek.

  “Get your hands off him!”

  Mo laughed. “Aw, ain’t that cute. He’s got his little boyfriend to protect him.”

  “If you don’t leave him alone, I’m gonna—”

  “Maybe after you hit puberty, Short-stack.” Mo gave his friends a nod, and they knocked Calvin onto the ground.

  With a slur of cursing, Calvin turned to get up when someone kicked him in the ribs. Calvin let out a yelp and sucked in his breath. He curled up on himself, protecting his head as they kicked him. He could hear Mo taunting Ethan.

  “So you can’t talk, huh? So if I do this….” The guy grabbed Ethan and punched him in the stomach.

  “No!”

  Calvin grabbed one guy’s sneaker, only to get punched in the face. Ethan fell onto his knees, tears in his eyes as he looked at Calvin.

  “Well, look at that. Guess he really is mute,” one of them sneered.

  “I don’t know. Maybe we should make sure.” Mo pulled a switchblade from his pocket. He popped the blade and pointed it at Calvin. “What if I was to cut your boyfriend? All you gotta say is ‘stop.’”

  Ethan shook his head furiously, his face red. A tear rolled down his cheek as he put his hands together, pleading.

  “You gotta say it if you want it to happen.”

  Ethan’s lip trembled, and he turned to Calvin, whose heart was ready to beat out of his chest. They couldn’t do this. They couldn’t force him. Ethan would never be able to say it, no matter how desperately he wanted it. Calvin knew Ethan was begging his brain to do it, willing his body to open his mouth and form that one little word. But his mind and body worked against him. The more he wanted it, the greater his desperation, the worse he would get.

  Calvin’s eyes widened. Oh no.

  “Please, you have to let me go to him.” Calvin could see it happening. Ethan was about to have a panic attack. “He needs help!”

  Ethan hugged himself, his face red and contorted with pain. He opened his mouth, and a fierce cry resonated around them. Everyone stilled. Shit. His best friend wasn’t having a panic attack, he was going feral.

  “Oh shit! Let’s get the fuck out of here!” The jerks took off so quickly they stumbled over each other.

  Calvin swallowed hard and pushed himself to his feet, his face swollen and lip stinging from where he’d been punched. His ribs were sore, but all he could think about was Ethan. He cringed and covered his ears with his hands at the horrifying sounds coming from his best friend.

  Calvin had never heard Ethan scream, much less the agonizing cries he was letting out now. What should he do? He’d never been in this situation before. Their moms had explained it to them, told them what to do in case it happened. It wasn’t his best friend’s first time, but it was the first time in front of Calvin. For years Ethan had hidden it from him, refusing to show him his feral half, afraid Calvin would be scared or disgusted.

  No matter how many times Calvin assured Ethan that he could never be disgusted by his best friend, Ethan refused to show him his Therian form. And now Ethan had no choice. He claw
ed at his clothes, and Calvin rushed to help him, pulled off his sneakers and socks. He helped Ethan to his feet. The process had already started. From Calvin’s knowledge, it would be even more painful if his best friend tried to reverse the change now.

  With his heart in his throat, Calvin watched, mesmerized, as Ethan stripped. He screamed and cried, his mass shifted, and his claws and fangs grew out, followed by his fur, the bones popping and moving underneath his stretching skin. When the transformation was complete, Ethan let out a roar that set off several car alarms. Calvin gave a start. He’d never been this close to a feral Therian, never heard a tiger Therian’s roar so close. It was terrifying. Yet….

  Calvin slowly edged closer to Ethan, whose head was bowed as if he were attempting to hide himself. Gingerly, Calvin reached out, his hand mere inches from Ethan’s head.

  “Hey,” Calvin said softly. He placed his hand gently on Ethan’s head. His fur was so soft. He was even bigger in his Therian form than he was in his Human form, and his fur wasn’t like any tiger Therian Calvin had ever seen. Ethan didn’t have black stripes like the others. He was white with pale orange stripes and a pink nose. A tabby tiger. He was beautiful.

  Ethan let out a low moan, and Calvin stepped closer. There was no doubt in his mind it was his best friend watching him from behind those big green eyes. It was Ethan in there. With a smile, Calvin dropped to his knees and threw his arms around Ethan, hugging him close.

  “You’re amazing.”

  A weird chainsaw-like sound rose up from Ethan, and Calvin realized his best friend was purring. With a laugh, he sat back on his heels. Ethan tried to look away, but Calvin took hold of his face.

  “Hey, look at me.”

  Ethan turned his face, a soft mewl escaping him.

  “You’re my best friend. You’ll always be my best friend. We got each other’s backs, yeah? You and me, we can take on the world.”

  Ethan tilted his head to one side, his ears flattening in uncertainty.

  “Have I ever lied to you? I know it’s tough sometimes, but you’re stronger than you think, Ethan. Look at you, man. Those dudes knew you were changing, and they all but pissed themselves. You don’t have to be scared of them.”